War began to occupy and farm the area. Jefferson Township was established on September 6, 1816. In 1840, Jefferson Township contained 1,040 inhabitants. By 1850, it had only grown to 1,236. It is one of twenty-four Jefferson Townships statewide. In 2003 Jefferson Township was granted Ohio Scenic Byway status by ODOT and the township actively manages and protects the historic character of the 15 miles of the Jefferson Township Scenic Byways corridor. The most recent management plan was done in 2015. Government The township is governed by a three-member board of trustees, who are elected in November of odd-numbered years to a four-year term beginning on the following January 1. Two are elected in the year after the presidential election and one is elected in the year before it. There is also an elected township fiscal officer, who serves a four-year term beginning on April 1 of the year after the election, which is held in November of the year before the presidential election. Vacancies in the fiscal officership or on the board of trustees are filled by the remaining trustees. Jefferson Township established its own Water and Sewer district independent of Franklin County, Columbus or Gahanna, unlike most townships locally. Jefferson Water and Sewer District or JWSD was created in 1987. The majority of the township is in the Gahanna-Jefferson Public School District with some additional parts in the boundaries of Columbus, Licking Heights, and Reynoldsburg Unified School Districts as well. Jefferson Township is split between the US Congressional Districts: OH-3, OH-12. It is in Ohio's 3rd senatorial district, and its Ohio State House Districts are OH-19 and OH-20. References External links Township website County website Townships in Franklin County, Ohio Townships in Ohio